This semester, I pursued my passion for mental health resources on campus by joining VSG’s Health and Wellness Committee. Especially with the transition of mental health care at Vanderbilt to the University Counseling Center system, many students–including myself–have been concerned by First-year’s current accessibility to campus resources. Beyond meeting an ambitious group of my peers on this committee, I began to realize the potential for VSG to initiate change on campus, even on the committee level. Recognizing that First-years may not know where resources are located or may want a more discrete way to be exposed to certain resources, a VSG subcommittee, lead by Senior Rachel Smith, answered the call, choosing to initiate a satellite program for these resources now known as “Commons Connect”.
This is Rachel Smith, leader of the Commons Connect Initiative.
“In an early meeting last semester, the idea dawned on us not only to have the CSW present on Commons, but other resources as well. My mind immediately jumped to the Office of LGBTQI Life, because I personally found support from the director, Chris Purcell, early in my college career. We began to assemble a list of offices we thought could be represented on The Commons, and we plan for it to grow in the coming semesters. Countless meetings later, we have the framework for a consistent locale for first-year students to find members of their support system.”
Smith has found her own support system within the campus resources at Vanderbilt and hopes that other First-year will have same exposure to the communities that she did as an underclassman. After months of work and coordination with various resource directors, Smith and her team have completed an initiative many have waited years for.
“Saying more about my experience with Chris Purcell, it is important to find people who push you. To pick yourself up after you fall, to create better conditions for yourself, to be fair to yourself and others. Sometimes, it takes that special person to get you to listen. I want everyone to find their Chris. Maybe your Chris will be that sweet girl you remember meeting in summer Gen Chem, or the compassionate French professor who asks you how you’re doing during office hours and truly means it. Vanderbilt is hard. Being a student here is physically and psychologically taxing. Building your support network is crucial for more than your success- it is critical for your wellbeing. First-years, I hope that you can use Commons Connect as a way to do just this.”
You are welcome to bring any topic you like for discussion, and this service is available to everyone! Consultations will be held on a first come, first served basis and take place in Room 216 (the Study Lounge next to the writing center) in Commons Center.
Current Representatives working with Commons Connect:
Center for Student Wellbeing: Thursdays, 1:00 pm – 2:45 pm
LGBTQI Life: Wednesdays, 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Margaret Cuninggim Women’s Center: Tuesdays, 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Project Safe: Thursdays, 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Note: There will likely be expansions of the services offered and their availability in future semesters.
Article co-authored with Rachel Smith.